The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-05-18
CONDITION DE THE CROPS.
Report Of the Department of Agriculture
for NAV.

for May.
WASHINGTON, May 10.-The report of the
Department of Agriculture for May re-
lates to the condition of winter grain, the
progress of spring blowing, and the proper
ton of the proposed cotton already planted.
1t indicates a decline in the condition of
wheat Of two points since April l, the
general average of the whole country being
SO, against "a in 1856, 20 in 1885 and "a
in 1884. The changes in condition have
not been uniform throughout the winter
wheat region, some States showing an
increase, the majority a slight decline, and
a few q heavy falling of. The States of
the middle Atlantic coast from Pennsyl-
vania TO North Carolina show some improve
ment, seaSonable weather having aided the
plant intrecoveriDg more than was expected
from the Jury done by the trying season
during February and March. In New York
and New Jersey the amount of winter kill
ing was not fully known in April, and this,
with cold, unfavorable weather durIng the
month, has caused a serious reduction of
the condition. Drought has reduced the
average somewhat in the Eastern Gulf
States, and has wrought very serious
damage in Texas and Arkansas, lowering
the condition during the month nineteen
and ten points respectively. Favorable
temperature and seasOnable rains have i'm
proved the prospect in Tennessee, West
Virginia and Kentucky, the condition
being considerably higher in these States
than it has averaged in May for the past
five years. The most serious reduction of
the month is in Ohio, where there is fall
ing of Of eight points since April l, due to
the continuing evil effects of the alternate
freezing and tbawing, noted in the last re-
port, and to the cold, dry weather
during the greater part of April,
which gave the injured plant little
chance for recupeIation. A favorable
season after April might have in a great
measure repaired the injury done up to
that time, but the continued unfavorable
conditions have wrought still further dam
sge and small crop is now inevitable.
Michigan and Indiana show slight de.
cline, while in Illinois and Missouri there
is a gain of one point. Unfavorable
weather in Kansas and California has
caused q slight falling off while in Oregon
the prospect has advanced, it being the
only State in which the condition reaches
leo. The averages of conditions by States
are: New York. Sc; Pennsylvania, 70;
Maryland, 81; Virginia, so; North Car
DINA, 90; Texas, GO; Arkansas, 90; Ten
90; Ohio, Il; Michigan, go; Indiana, 81;
Illinois, 50; Missouri, SO; Kansas, 81; Cal
iforDia, 50; Oregon, 101.
The season has been more generally ad-
vanced in all parts of the country than
usual, spring blowing being seriously be-
hind only on the Atlantic coast south to
Pennsylvania, and on the Pacific slope. In
these sections it has been delayed by cold
and excess of moisture, the season, espe.
cislIy during April, having been generally
favorable, with the temperature above the
normal and rain fall at a minimum. The
proportion already done on May 1 is es-
timaied at so per cent. of the whole, while
the amount usually completed at that dat
is about 20 per cent.
The proportion of cotton already planted
amounts to more than four-fifths of the
proposed area and is slightly greater than
at the same date in any of the preceding
five years, but is little less than the pro-
portion returned by the correspondents as
the average planting at that date. The pro-
portions by States ere: North Carolina, 20;
South Carolina, so; Georgia, 81; Florida,
go; Alabama, IS; Mississippi, 81; Louisi-
ana, So; Texas 50; Arkansas, 80; Tennes-
see, so. There is some complaint OF slow
termination and poor stand on account
of drought at the time of planting in some
sections but with favorable weather re-
planting is rapidly filling all the gaps